Improvement in coffins



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES M. GURRIER, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN COFFINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 171,101, dated December 14, 1875; application filed November 24, 1675.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES M. OURRIER, of Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Burial-Gaskets, of which the following is a specification:

My improvement is intended to make a strong case, which shall not be so heavy or expensive as those made entirely of metal, and which at the same time shall be stronger, more durable, and not materially more costly than those in common use made of wood. To this end my invention consists in making the case partly of wood and partly of sheet metal.

I have illustrated one form in the annexed drawings, in which the bottom and top are made of wood, and the sides and ends of sheet metal. I do not, however limit myself to any configuration, nor to the precise mode of manufacture shown, as the form may be modified according to fancy, and the sides, as well as the top or bottom, may be made of wood, the ends being made of sheet metal.

In the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective View, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section.

A is a wooden bottom, cut to the proper shape, and B a molding, which may be put around the lower edge for a finish. O is a frame of wood of any appropriate form, conforming to the shape of the bottom, and determining that of the top. The sheet metal is attached so as to extend over the top of the wooden frame in one piece, as shown, or made of sides or ends of metal soldered together, or set into other frame-pieces of wood. E is the lid fastened on by hinges attached by screws extending down into the wooden frame 0. The casket, when completed, may be painted, or otherwise ornamented, or it may be covered with cloth, which can-be tacked to the wooden frame (J, and to the bottom, so as to cover the exterior or interior surface, or both. To fasten down the lid,screws may be run down through the wooden top into the wooden frame C.

I am aware that wooden burial-cases have been used, which are lined with sheet metal, and my claim is not, therefore, broadly for such a case made of wood and metal; but my invention is distinguished from others heretot'ore known, in the use of a wooden top and bottom connected by sheet metal to form the shell of the burial-case.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A burial-case, combining in its construction, a wooden bottom and frame-piece, 0, parallel thereto, and sides or ends formed by extending sheet metal from the wooden frame to the Wooden bottom, and a cover, E, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. M. (JURRIER.

Witnesses:

G. M. HARRIS, P. J. LARRABEE. 

